3 strikes you're out

Chapter 6: Sleepover

12th September 2023:

Bria's POV:

Anya and I are leaning against the white wooden headboard in my room. We came straight to mine after school finished because we planned a last minute sleepover. Chris would have come but my mum said no to having boys sleepover in my room.

That kinda sucks because I love Chris... But I don't love Chris. I like Chris but not really like him. Wait, that doesn't make sense. I'll start again. I love Chris as a friend because he is a great friend just like Anya is. Yeah, I'm just going to shut up now.

I laugh at the memory from earlier when I slapped Chris in the head for stealing my food.

"What's funny?" Anya asks, turning her head towards me.

"Nothing." I respond and she goes back to typing on her phone but she can tell that it's not nothing.

She's been doing that an awful lot in the last few days. I lean over her shoulder but she turns the screen away from me abruptly.

"Who have you been texting?" I ask, sitting up straighter suddenly curious as to what she is hiding.

"No one. Why do you care?" She responded.

"Just tell me. I won't tell anyone if that's what you want." I plead.

"Do you swear not to tell anyone?" She asks.

Swearing is something we stand by. It was a way for us to keep things between us before we met Chris. Neither of us have broken it. The last time we swore about something was when we were 9. So whatever she is keeping from me and Chris must be serious.

"Of course, I swear I won't." I assure her.

"Especially Chris." She says seriously.

"Yes, now tell me." I said, confused as to why she doesn't want our best friend to know too.

She sits up properly and turns the phone towards me. The name at the top of the screen reads: Liam. Okay, well that wasn't serious.

"Liam?" I ask when shock then confusion spreads over my face. "As in Liam Liam?"

"Yes, don't tell Chris." She begs, her hazel eyes are silently asking me to keep this between us.

"How the hell did that happen? He stalks you! He had at least 20 pictures of you in his locker."

"He's actually nice when you get to know him. I'm only—" She tried to reason before I interrupted her.

"Wait, hang on. Are you two together?" I ask, gaping.

"No, of course not. We are friends." She hurriedly shut me down.

"You're more than that." I corrected her.

"No."

"Yes"

"I swear we are just friends."

"Fine."

I roll my eyes and grab the phone out of her hand.

"Hey!" She yelled, hitting my arm in frustration.

She tries to reach over to snatch it back but I block her using one arm and use the other to hold the screen away and scroll up to see the previous messages. Nothing I'm seeing is signifying that they are together. They are mainly just talking about school and things they both have in common.

There are 4 billion boys in the world and she chose him? She can do so much better. Why didn't she pick Chris? He's nice, supportive, honest and attractive. Wait, no. Not attractive. I mean, maybe to other people he is, but definitely not to me.